Jason Anderson is a notable leader in speaking on such important topics as financial literacy and highlighting the achievements of black leaders that have come before him. He received the 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award signed by President Biden. He has also been recognized for his innovative approach to empowering communities, the native of Memphis, Tennessee is making a national and global impact that is undeniable. One of his most recent accolades of being named one of Urban Elites Top 40 Most Influential Memphians in their annual list.
Share with us about the Dream Commission LLC and what led to its development.
The Dream Commission was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s plight toachieve economic equality and access for black and impoverished Americans. Over 30% of black people in Memphis Tennessee as well as my home state of Mississippi live in poverty and our goal through strategic economic forums entitled “Dream Summits” is to eradicate this poverty.
Why do you think it’s important for our black communities to see more black men in leadership positions?
Children have a habit of modeling behaviors; what they see in the environment around them has a profound impact on who they will become. The greater the volume of black male leaders we see in communities the greater the sphere of influence black male leaders will have.
How do you strive to give back to inner-city black communities?
I use The Dream Commission to host free economic forums called “Dream Summits” to excite, ignite, and educate students, parents, and entrepreneurs surrounding financial literacy. Our summits include a blend of celebrities, local entrepreneurs, educators, business owners, civic leaders, and financial institutions to ensure that not only attendees are entertained but also have access to free continued education programs.
What’s your motto and in what ways do you live by it?
“Our job as dreamers is to guide others to the door of their aspirations and inspire them to be courageous enough to walk through.” I strive to do this by intentionally working within impoverished communities to provide resources and the inspiration they need to feel empowered to achieve their dreams. Before the Dream Commission’s conception, I was able to help one thousand documented families learn about financial literacy programming and concepts to change their lives. My work with the commission is a more streamlined continuation of this process that is scalable at a national level.
Where is your passion born from? Share with us briefly about your up bringing as a youth.
Born to first-generation college graduates, I come from a town of civil rights heroes and icons in Grenada MS where over 100 kids as young as 7-year-old Eva Lemon were arrested in the Grenada Freedom Movement of 1966 where Dr. Kingwas working to integrate the first school in the Deep- South. These youths went on not only integrate schools but later became educators, and business owners, and two kids Pete Wilson and Louis Johnson helped lead the majority black city council in this once racist stronghold of the south. With role models surroundingmy community, I had no choice but to seed. Briefly, as a youth I grew up in a COGIC (Church of God in Christ), I was also a standout in baseball and band. I also placed third in the world in behavioral and social sciences at the 2005 Intel ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair). My faith has always been a focal point in my life, and education is just a key that further unlocks the doors that faith leads me to.
What is next for you?
What’s next is to continue to speak around the country regarding the legacy of Dreamers and the purpose of the Dream Commission. We are vigorously working to host the largest “Free” financial literacy conference in the southern region of the United States this Juneteenth and welcome any sponsors, and potential keynote speakers to visit our website at www.thedreamcommission.org to contribute to our cause.
One of the things Jason is most looking forward to this year is his HBCU Dream Summit Tour launching in the fall to cultivate the next generation of leaders. He also has an ambitious goal for his commission to impact over 5,000 black and impoverished Memphians this summer. He stated earlier how he was inspired by Dr. King’s Dream and the work that he did to bring economic equality to impoverished black Americans, now he is continuing that legacy through the Dream Commission.To highlight another of his earlier statements his faith has always been a focal point in his life, and education is just a key that further unlocks the doors that faith leads him to. That resonated with me as I know that his faith and education together will continue unlocking more and more doors for him in the future, and if we grab ahold of this piece of wisdom in our own lives it will do the same for us as well.
